There is only one answer to the M3 mess

LAST week’s presentation to Meath County Council and the ensuing debate in the council chamber - the third such debate held since the June elections - demonstrated the effective use of local democracy.

It has also highlighted the appalling mess created by the M3 tolled motorway scheme.

And this mess is not only about the desecration of Tara, its landscape and archaeological sites. It is also a mess in relation to the transport, commuting, road safety and tourism needs of Meath, as more and more people are gradually beginning to realise.

So what is the solution? Litigation cannot fairly or properly resolve the complex problems that have arisen in this case and it will, in effect, only let the authorities off the hook as they join forces in defending the indefensible.

Litigation of this sort only serves to delay the inevitable while adding to the costs, delays and frustrations of the ordinary citizen and taxpayer.

Neither can the solution lie with the NRA.

Although enormous powers have been delegated to this body, they seemingly do not have the power to reverse or even amend a decision which is clearly in error, a decision which they themselves walked into by not properly informing themselves in the beginning, and which they have compounded by their arrogant and ostrich-like approach at every turn since then.

Clearly the solution can only lie with the Government. The relevant ministers and local TDs and councillors must thrash out the difficulties and find a way of moving this problem forward in the best interests of our national heritage and Meath’s transport infrastructure.

As a first step, we have suggested that the single 64km contract be broken into three. This would allow the Clonee-to-Dunshaughlin improvements to go ahead and the Dunshaughlin and Kells bypasses to be prioritised. The necessary breathing space would then be found to allow for a re-examination of the contested Dunshaughlin-to-Navan section, improvement of the existing N3 and consideration of all possible alternatives.

Hopefully it might also result in a thorough study of the overall transport needs of Meath, something which has never been addressed before.

The people of Cashel can rightly celebrate their bypass - but unless there is Government intervention now, the people of Dunshaughlin and the long-suffering Meath commuters will have to wait many more years before their promised bypass is even begun.

In the meantime a unique resource and treasure will have been lost to the nation.

Julitta Clancy

Assistant Secretary

Meath Archaeological & Historical Society

Parsonstown

Batterstown

Co Meath